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Switzerland

A short overview: how flying works here, where the sites are, and where to find more. Check with the national body or a local club or school before flying.

Overview

How flying works here

National body: Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SHV/FSVL) (opens in a new tab)

Visiting pilots

  • Pilots living abroad may fly occasionally with an IPPI card at level IV or V. Commercial tandem flying and instructing need Swiss licences.
  • Liability insurance is compulsory, and every glider needs a registration number, which the SHV issues free.

A short summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current requirements with Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SHV/FSVL) before you fly. Summary checked 13 Oct 2026.

Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SHV/FSVL): current rules for visiting pilots (opens in a new tab)

Learning to fly

  • Training is done at SHV-certified flight schools. You start on a practice slope, then make high flights supervised by an instructor over the radio.
  • The licence exam has a theory test in five subjects and a practical exam. Paraglider pilots need at least 50 high flights from at least 5 sites first.
  • The minimum age is 14 for training flights and the theory exam, and 16 for the practical exam.

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against official sources: source 1 (opens in a new tab) · source 2 (opens in a new tab) · source 3 (opens in a new tab) · source 4 (opens in a new tab) · source 5 (opens in a new tab) · source 6 (opens in a new tab) · source 7 (opens in a new tab) · source 8 (opens in a new tab)

Visiting Switzerland: help on the ground and flying tours

Information only. Forecast direction is compared with each site's published wind range; speeds are shown but not judged. Always check the official site guide, the administering club and conditions on the day. You are responsible for your decision to fly.

Sites

Sites listed by ParaglidingEarth's contributors. Ask a local club or school about each one before flying there.

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Community site data: © ParaglidingEarth contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0 / ODbL 1.0) · checked 13 Oct 2026